Who among Belarus officials objects to visa-free regime for foreigners?

Belarus' Deputy Sports and Tourism Minister Mikhail Partny says that a visa-free entry for foreigners traveling via the Minsk International Airport may be introduced this year already.

The Economy and Foreign ministries are also supportive. Only the ministries in charge of security "have some doubts."

"Apparently, one needs to verify who is coming and what intentions they have. The world is dangerous today," officials at the Sports and Tourism Ministry note.

Let's see who among security officials objects to foreigners traveling to Belarus without a visa.

The Border Control Committee has no issues with the visa-free regime. Aliaksandr Tsiareshchanka, the press officer at the Committee, tells Euroradio "it does not matter to border guards to check passports with a visa or without."

"Law-enforcement agencies, special service are reluctant to the initiatives to ease the movement of foreigners. Apparently, they feel akward with any initiatives that may lead to uncontrolled movement of foreigners. Even before, during the talks about the small cross-border movement, law-enforcers wanted foreigners to register," says Andrei Yeliseyeu, analyst with Belarusian Institute for Strategic Studies.

However, the police… have no issues with the visa-free regime eaither. “We don't have any problems with that. We neither object nor support such a law,” the press office of the Interior replied to an official inquiry from Euroradio.

Currently, a foreigner can stay in Belarus without registration for five days. If he or she comes for a period longer than five days, registration at the residence address is required. Hotels and hostels registers their foreign guests automatically. After registration, a foreigner can freely move around the country.

The Belarusian Foreign Ministry told Euroradio that visa refusal percentage "is close to zero and equal to mathematical error."

Раней замежнікам ужо дазволілі ездзіць без віз на Аўгустоўскі канал, а таксама пускалі без іх на чэмпіянат свету па хакеі.

Цяпер праект закона аб бязвізавым уездзе для замежнікаў на пяць дзён — на разглядзе ў Савеце міністраў.